masonic lodge election proceduremasonic lodge election procedure

A late-arriving member can vote only with other members' consent by majority vote. 234 0 obj <> endobj endobj places. 16 0 obj Only one (1) official website per Lodge will be recognized by the Grand Lodge and linked to by the Grand Lodge of Georgia's website. These elections are to vote on new top lodge officers in the blue lodge. [ 11 0 R] Note: Prior to opening elections, the WM will go over prerequisites, eligibility, exceptions, nominations, limitations and procedures in accordance with Lodge By Laws and the ACGL Code, sections 2.21 through 2.29. Customarily (although it's not required), the chair accomplishes this by calling three times for more nominations. <>>> Your group's rules and customs determine when floor nominations are accepted. I've never performed or even practiced the role before, though via "osmosis," should be able to piece it together to at least a minimally functional level. 13 0 obj 11 0 obj A Lodge member who has held the highest office in the Lodge has for life a Masonic position of his own. Officers Duties and Responsibilities . Whatever nomination method you propose, be specific. stream 1. %PDF-1.5 For every expense, large or small, the Secretary is to write a voucher which is to be countersigned by the Worshipful Master and passed on to the Treasurer for payment. Are there any further nominations for president? (1) A District Grand Lodge Fund shall be established for charitable and other Masonic purposes to which every Lodge in the District shall make in respect of each of its subscribing members annual contributions of $5000.00 or such lesser amount as the District Grand Lodge shall by resolution from time to time determine. Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. When the nominating ballot is received, the signed inner envelope containing the ballot is logged in against a list of voting members, and the ballot is deposited in a receptacle for tallying like an election ballot. election of officers in April each year. Same in NM amd OR. Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be elected. At the Worshipful Master s order the Stewards distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. When nominations are taken from the floor or when a nominating ballot is used, a good practice is to provide the members with an eligibility list so that they are not nominating people who will not be able to serve. is more then one candidate for the degrees. 3. Ballot counters should cast their ballots at the same time that the assembly votes. Decision Making For Dummies. ballot drawer is empty and that there are both white balls and black When counting ballots, ballot counters need to keep a few key points in mind: Blank votes are treated as scrap paper and don't count at all. It varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. ", WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden? *(cM YiVo~r049>Kwz,8*#]qVLB`l:HM\7Gj#?#PV(F"y@f4 @hbe2q&8%RYcM`uU;ap10n Elections are decided by majority vote unless your bylaws provide differently. As JPM of my lodge, I've been asked to serve in this role for our upcoming officer elections. programs and procedures of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a Masonic District and their Lodge. The above procedure is repeated for each position or Section 3. Register a free account today to become a member! Balloting for your acceptance into a Masonic lodge After the investigative committee reports to the lodge, your petition is voted on. The Grand Lodge was founded shortly after George I, the first Hanoverian king of the Kingdom of Great Britain, ascended to the throne on 1 August 1714 and the end of the first Jacobite rising of 1715.. Officially, the Grand Lodge of England was founded in London on St. John the Baptist's day, 24 June 1717, when four existing Lodges gathered at the Goose and Gridiron Ale-house in St. Paul's . HWG l!$"' g]9=3>3U}Zo.wjyiQo?\>,:lFYE#q IBZ.rwi/A%f_N'_LDX <> 8. [Articles] [Masonic After the period during which a recount can be conducted has passed, you don't need to keep the ballots. You are using an out of date browser. These Masonic rituals represent three degrees which are taken in sequence. After nominations are closed, the vote is taken on each nominee in the order in which they were nominated. A member can't make the motion to adjourn while the assembly is occupied with taking a vote, verifying a vote, or announcing a vote, except when the vote is by ballot. endobj It varies! endstream endobj 37 0 obj <>stream or opinion Because fraud does happen in the election process, members need to be alert and watchful of the election process. Development] [Education] [Masonic The ballots are tallied very much like an election ballot, and the report becomes the list of nominees for each office. Sometimes nominations aren't taken until the election is pending, and sometimes they're taken at other times, such as at a meeting before the election meeting. endobj Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. WM: "Have all of the brethren of _______________ *.MXPY!~@Aa%^ N&4D1la`:v@Ai,^t #. If electronic machines are used for voting, they should be programmed so that each segment of the ballot is treated as if it were a separate ballot. Annual Meeting Election and Installation of Officers Annual Past Masters Night Symbolic Degree Refresher Application Avouching Back to Lodge Night Bringing Freemasonry to the Attention of Profane Correspondence Dress Entering an Opened Lodge Examination of Visitors Example Sheet - Lodge Programs General Grand Honors ____ for the ensuing Masonic year. 66 0 obj <>stream Is it permissible to hold election of officers in an EA lodge? endobj gjzUS&31+W&nck')*Uf{|mON6E4GKIpFT(o o.RJ MXqy-) MR My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. The Worshipful Master orders the Wardens to take Master informs the successful individual as follows: "Brother After each nomination, the president repeats the name to the assembly. Jewels of Masonic Secretary The Secretary's official duties include issuing the summons (a formal notice of an impending meeting, with time, date and agenda), recording meeting minutes, completing statistical returns to the Grand Lodge, and advising the Worshipful Master on matters of procedure. place with the Senior and Junior Wardens alternating in calling the When the secretary mails the members a notice about the nomination and election meeting, the letter can include a request that members who do not wish to be considered for office notify the secretary in writing. 14 0 obj Discover the world's largest and oldest fraternal organization with over 3 million members. After the committee reports, the chair states: President: The nominating committee nominates Alex Shaw for president, Bianca Fernandez for vice president, Raymond Platt for secretary, and Donna Agnese for treasurer. %PDF-1.5 To help with the Masonic experience at Lodge meetings, you were allowed to open on any degree, and use the Chamber Nominations are taken for successive offices in the order they're listed in the bylaws. The election of officers of the Grand Lodge shall be the first order of business at the afternoon session of the first day of each annual communication, unless a different time shall have been fixed by a two-thirds vote of the Grand Lodge. Remember brethren, a stream endobj It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views (or for affiliation) which has received a unanimously favorable Lodge Trustees and Charity Foundation become available for you and published in the members only area of our web site so that you know how Grand Lodge and its organizations are spending your money and conducting their business. If a marked ballot is folded together with a blank ballot, the marked ballot counts as one legal vote, and the blank ballot is considered scrap paper. REG. However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. Magazines Online] Jump to content The Official RONR Q & A Forums _____ cast their ballot?" 4[>56[Wbz ; ~D.Lf Y`S=#A.%* ^Ckk8a)W=Lt!z3 EHDG}S?#&,y$OAYNOQ kKl_B ? Secretarys table and put the ballots into one of the hats. This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United If you have only two candidates and the vote is a tie, you repeat the balloting until one candidate receives a majority. _____ and place it on the (rap). In Kentucky, the individual is normally sent a certified letter. It is the duty of every member present to vote, While the . Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox! The Code has two primary chapters that describe the process of voting in subordinate lodges. endobj Cell phones, chewing gum, crinkly snack wrappers and other distractions should be disallowed during a fraternity election (except during breaks). If an elected candidate declines the office after he or she is elected and after the meeting has adjourned, another election needs to take place, if at all possible. In writing the nomination, election, and vacancy conditions in the bylaws, the organization should make sure that if a vacancy is created early in the term of office, the vacancy is filled by election instead of by appointment, whenever possible. Masonic Lodge Election Procedure HB89 - Tightens the time frames for issuance of firearms licenses by probate judges. 3 0 obj If an EA is not attending, it is the option of the WM as to which lodge will be opened. collect the ballots, the Deacons approach the altar, pick up the hats, 98% sure that it is. NOTE: This is only a suggested procedure. If members don't understand exactly how it works, the ones whose preferred candidate doesn't get voted on are likely to think something is amiss. 2 0 obj RESOLVED, that the Handbook of Masonic Law, Digest of Edicts, sec- Authors of Resolution: Bros. John F. tion on Perpetual Membership, pages Knox, Jr., P.M., W.H. The following shall be the methods of affiliation: 1. When called on to give the report, the chairman of the nominating committee states the nominations for each office. 0 The conventions are over, election day draws near, and the usual round of political rhetoric from candidates is blasted all over the TV, radio and internet, voters begin to wear out and are usually just ready for Election Day to be over with. WM: "The brethren of ____________ Lodge No. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. When the nominations stop, the chair just declares nominations closed after making sure that no more nominations are forthcoming. <> To which Blaise replies "Yeah, 200 bucks is pretty steep.". State which position is open for election or re-election, and invite members of the organization to come forward with their nominations for the position. %PDF-1.3 BALLOTING PROCEDURE CHAPTER xv THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER'S HANDBOOK Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M. Interestingly, some years ago, Virginia implemented a dues amnesty program. The Master then casts his own vote. 6 0 obj These rules supersede the adopted parliamentary authority. This method gives voters an idea of the group's preferences without holding an actual election. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> TURNING YOUR BACK: Never turn one's back on the Master to address the lodge without first-receiving permission The Authorities for Masonic Law. {V++6o <>`ulr<>[lLDdTVVQ4Mt{<1iz;E The secretary places all nominations in the minutes. ;D[{cv,#(145:n') The process of making floor nominations is subject to the following rules: Recognition by the chair is not required to make a nomination. The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. <> The Worshipful Master What it all means: A Worshipful Master simply depicts a deity or one in authority who is held in honor and considered as an honorable man. collectively, and in the case of one blackball appearing therein it Freemasonry promotes friendship, morality, and brotherly love among men of all races, religions, opinions, and backgrounds. In either case, you need to appoint reliable ballot counters to hand out and collect ballots and to count the votes. 9 0 obj Further, I don't think I have ever seen a Lodge election where there isn't some form of politics involved. The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. Election of Master and Treasurer 36 Exclusion under Rule 181 Procedures to be carried out 31,32 Files To be kept 5 Foreword 2 Forms Grand Lodge 5 Grand Rank Procedure 33 Hall Stone Jewel When it can be worn 18 Honorary Membership Disabilities, Election, Status 13 Installation Night Toast 19 Leaflets Information 5 'xzwQ38/4b|T}R-g|7uhw 4!"icE)S7AEo <> Apply a check mark to indicate the choice wherever . Persons serving on the committee can be nominated for office. If the bylaws specifically address this situation, members should follow the bylaws. The Lodge web page must not link to or be linked to by any website where a conflict . Take security measures to protect the privacy of the nominating ballot; each member is instructed to fold his or her ballot inside a signed envelope and mail it back in an outer envelope. 4. If members question the validity of an election or the procedure in taking the vote, a member should make a motion to recount the votes within a reasonably brief time after the president announces the election outcome. Both a bank's president and janitor can apply for membership, and they're considered equally qualified. of altar. An "irregular lodge" can be described as the type of Lodge that does have a charter from a Grand Lodge, but other Grand Lodges do not recognize its Grand lodge. << /Type /Page /Parent 3 0 R /Resources 6 0 R /Contents 4 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. The Senior Deacon presents the ballot to each officer Blogs] [Links] Introduction. Grand Lodge Dues 24 Conducting an Election of Officers 24-25 Section . Talks] [Masonic Join us as we strive to make good men better by teaching universal values through the use of geometry and architecture metaphors. Same in NM amd OR. If you had to move before you finished receiving the three degrees of the blue lodge, you'd need lodge B to perform courtesy work. LODGE VISITATION - A PRIVILEGE. endstream endobj 34 0 obj <>>>/Metadata 18 0 R/Pages 31 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 35 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]>>/Rotate 0/Type/Page>> endobj 36 0 obj <>stream Or, they can tell members publicly that they do not have a nominee for a certain office; this allows members to volunteer. endobj 246 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<75266C93CDC0804A95BB4A6C74B63ADD>]/Index[234 30]/Info 233 0 R/Length 67/Prev 302045/Root 235 0 R/Size 264/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream The position of Worshipful Master in the East occupies the most exalted position within the lodge. No one should be nominated without his or her consent because, if elected, the person may decline to serve and members will have to hold another election. The election (or rejection) of a candidate in a Masonic lodge is a secret ballot, and with few exceptions, must be completely unanimous. ___________, you have been elected to serve as ____________ of In most places, the answer is likely no. Masonic politics is typically at its ugliest during elections when Brothers are charged with un-Masonic conduct for "electioneering." I find this all rather amusing as I believe our process for electing officers is far from perfect. The balloting committee can still count the ballots. report from the investigating committee. Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. Do you In balloting on a petition for affiliation, if one blackball You must log in or register to reply here. 6. 1. Brother Secretary conduct a roll call. Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. Work on making your brothers become better friends. A motion to close nominations is usually not necessary unless it is apparent that members are nominating people just to honor them, and that the nominees have no intention of serving. Freemasons meet in a temple, which they call a "lodge", as that is where ancient stonemasons met when working on a church or cathedral Lodges are grouped by region, roughly in line with the old. 587 Ballot voting is by far the surest way to allow for the free expression of the will of the membership. If a member votes for more choices than positions to be elected, the vote is considered illegal. 3 0 obj All business is done in a MM lodge. Chairman of Nominating Committee: Madam President, the nominating committee submits the following nominations: for president, Alex Shaw; for vice president, Bianca Fernandez; for secretary, Raymond Platt; and for treasurer, Donna Agnese. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Some organizations add nominees to the ballot only if the name is submitted on a petition signed by some minimum number of members. x=o6 bP+SR[H7\AE>Dz- ^=(pH{'OE5Y%?jUMi?OOVy5'Vx_u5'ur|GY,*'yEL -R@$S0.SHdrV&g_;F0PJ1:|GXqNg 1. The only exceptions are: (1) a newly instituted lodge, (2) one that has received written approval from the General Governor, based upon membership action, or (3) an emergency situation requiring the election to be changed or waived. This method of nominations is based on the principle of allowing all voters to make nominations for all offices by completing a nominating ballot. of the District of Columbia Since it is the obligation of every brother of the Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a visiting brother take his place so that the tiler may cast his vote. % Only MMs vote. The entire ballot counters' report should be included in the minutes of the meeting. Books Online] [E-Books] [Library Of <> 127. A website endorsed by a Lodge will be considered the official Lodge website, and will be subject to these criteria and rules. % <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> . When holding ballot elections, you have two procedural options: Nominations for all offices conclude before any balloting begins. Collectively, these motions are known as motions related to nominations. endobj The Masonic Oath is hugely significant, as it is represents a Masons' integrity and is an example of their strong bond to all other brothers within the fraternity. masonic lodge election procedure; shkolla viktor hygo logo October 28, 2021. masonic lodge election procedure . A properly planned and executed meeting results in good participation. As Masons, we hone our skills to apply their use, improving ourselves daily. <> the Senior Warden hands each ballot to the Junior Warden who announces APPOINTMENT. For the qualifications of candidates in order to join a Masonic Lodge in Texas there are a series of "Freemason requirements". The organization must have another election. 10 0 obj Fund raising is underway. The election process may be the easiest part of deciding who handles a particular job in the organization. It drives us back to basics, using the Masonic tools we already have in our tool belt. the vote. Only members entitled to vote are given ballots or are allowed to deposit ballots with a ballot counter or place them in the ballot receptacle. 15 0 obj If a member votes for fewer choices than positions to be elected, the vote is legal and those votes count. mistake.". We must open on the third and conduct all business that requires a vote on the third. takes up his place at the tilers door. elected (rejected) Mister ___________ for the degrees of appears the ballot shall be immediately retaken, and if a blackball endobj A poor meeting achieves the opposite results. (The chair usually just announces the opening of nominations at the appointed time when they are in order. If the organization uses a nominating committee and then takes nominations from the floor, the secretary records the nominating committee's report first and then lists nominations for each office in the order they are presented as given by the members from the floor. Booth Lodge 100-100C, be amended . His term expires July, 2014.". The election process may be the easiest part of deciding who handles a particular job in the organization. Announce that you are about to conduct the election of Lodge officers for the ensuing Masonic year and state that you will now accept nominations for the office of WM. Any blue lodge that does not hold annual election of officers is considered irregular by most Grand Lodges. Sent from my LG-H811 using My Freemasonry Pro mobile app. Since it is the obligation of every brother of the Only MMs vote. If you have a nominating committee in place, ask this group to declare their nominee for a specific officer role. In most cases, the threshold is a majority of the votes cast. Because this form of voting favors one candidate over another based on the order of nomination, you should avoid using it except in mass meetings or when there's no serious contest for the office and a ballot is not required. After the person elected to office assumes the position, it is too late to nullify an illegal election.
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